Alarm apparatus for office equipment

ABSTRACT

This invention is concerned with an alarm apparatus constructed in an enclosed housing and having attachment means for quick connection to a piece of office equipment. The alarm housing is made up of a box-shaped case and a removable base plate. Its major operating components are an alarm buzzer, a battery unit, two switch assemblies and a lock device, which are all contained within the housing. A rocker lever is pivotally mounted within the housing along its intermediate portion and carries a plunger on one of its arms which is disposed to extend through an opening formed in the base plate. A spring provides a biasing force on the lever in a direction to urge the plunger to move down into engagement with the surface supporting the base plate. One of the switch assemblies includes a switch closing means for energizing the alarm buzzer when actuated by one of the lever arms in response to the plunger&#39;&#39;s downward travel caused by the lifting of the alarm housing. A second switch assembly has a switch closing means for energizing the alarm buzzer due to the actuation by one of the arms upon the plunger being raised. A lock device is provided for selectively deenergizing both of the switch assemblies to prevent their energization of the alarm buzzer regardless of the position of the plunger.

United States Patent [1 1 Gopperton June 4, 1974 Ardath A. Gopperton,Mount Prospect, Ill.

[75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: The Paymaster Corporation,

Chicago, 111.

221 Filed: Sept. 25, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 291,777

[52] US. Cl 340/280, 200/153 K, 340/272. 340/283 [51] Int. Cl. G08b13/14 [58] Field of Search 340/283, 280, 272, 274; 200/153 K, 85 R, 153D, 153 E, 61.76

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,273.440 2/1942 Gould340/283 X 2,441,888 5/1948 Lansing 200/153 K 2,617,868 11/1952 Menkin 11 340/274 2,797,405 6/1957 Stelter 340/280 3,044,053 7/1962 Larsen340/280 4 3,685,037 8/1972 Bennett 340/283 X 3,714,643 1/1973. Sosin340/274 5 7 1 ABSTRACT This invention is concerned with an alarmapparatus constructed in an enclosed housing and having attachment meansfor quick connection to a piece of office equipment. The alarm housingis made up of a boxshaped case and a removable base plate. its majoroperating components are an alarm buzzer, a battery unit, two switchassemblies and a lock device, which are all contained within thehousing. A rocker lever is pivotally mounted within the housing alongits intermediate portion and carries a plunger on one of its arms whichis disposed to extend through an opening formed in the base plate. Aspring provides a biasing force on the lever in a direction to urge theplunger to move down into engagement with the surface supporting thebase plate. One of theswitch assemblies includes a switch closing meansfor energizing the alarm buzzer when actuated by one of the lever armsin response to the plungers downward travel caused by the lifting of thealarm housing. A second switch assembly has a switch closing means forenergizing the alarm buzzer due to the actuation by one of the arms uponthe plunger being raised. A lock device is provided for selectivelydeenergizing both of the switch assemblies to prevent their energizationof the alarm buzzer rel0 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEU $815317SHEET 20F 3 PATENTEDJ N 4mm 3L815L117 SHEEI 30F 3 BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to an alarm apparatus, and inparticular, to an alarm apparatus adapted to be connected to officeequipment for preventing theft of such equipment.

There are a number of anti-theft alarm devices in the prior art forprotecting office equipment, such as Jagger U.S. Pat. No. 2,928,336.Most of these prior alarm devices have the same inherent disadvantage ofthe alarm system described in the Jagger patent of being built into theparticular office equipment and are consequently limited to use with theone particular piece of equipment. This invention overcomes the abovementioned disadvantage by constructing the alarm apparatus in aself-contained housing having an attachment means for connection to avariety of office equipment items.

The anti-theft alarm devices of the type described in the Jagger patentoperate on the principle of a spring bias actuating means that istripped upon its housing being lifted above a supporting surface. Aninherent problem with thistype of alarm device can be deactivated byslipping a relatively thin solid object beneath the actuating device andsimultaneously raising it with the housing to prevent the alarmactuation. This invention prevents this tampering of the alarm system byadding a second switch means that will energize the alarm buzzer uponthe slightest upward movement of the actuating member.

A further feature embodied in this invention is a lock device whichcontrols the activation of the two switch assemblies to permit the alarmbuzzer to be selectively deactivated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention comprises an alarm apparatushaving an enclosed housing and having attachment means for quickconnection to a piece of office equipment. A rocker lever is pivotallymounted within the housing along its intermediate portion and carries aplunger on one of its arms which is disposed to extend through anopening formed in the base plate. A spring provides a biasing force onthe lever in a direction to urge the plunger to move down intoengagement with the surface supporting the base plate. One of the switchassemblies includes a switch closing means for energizing an alarmbuzzer when actuated by one of the lever arms in response to theplungers downward travel caused by the lifting of the alarm housing. Asecond switch assembly has a switch closing means for energizing thealarm buzzer due to the actuation by one of the arms upon the plungerbeing raised. A lock device is provided for selectively deenergizingboth of the switch assemblies to prevent their energization of the alarmbuzzer regardless of the position of the plunger.

8 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of thisinvention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a top plan view of the alarm box with the top broken away forillustrating the alarm buzzer, battery unit, and switch assemblies foractuating the alarm buzzer;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is an end view ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an end view showing a modification of the embodiment of FIGS.1 through 3; v

FIG. 5 is a partial end view showing the attaching means for attachingthe alarm apparatus housing to an adjacent office equipment housing;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the switch assemblies anddeactivating means employed in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the FIG. 6 illustration;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 6 and looking inthe direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 7 andlooking in the direction of the arrows;

F 1G. 10 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 1010 of FIG. 9and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of the rocker lever used ininterconnecting the switch actuating plunger to the two switchassemblies; and

FIG. i2 is an electrical schematic diagram of the electrical operatingcomponents used in my invention.

I DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, thereis shown an alarm apparatus generally designated by the referencenumeral 20 and embodying the principles of my inven tion. Alarmapparatus 20 is contained in an enclosed housing 22 comprising abox-shaped case 24 and a cover member or base plate 26 closing its openend. The housing 22 is provided with four spaced feet members 28 mountedon base plate 26 for supporting the housing 22 on a suitable horizontalsurface, such as a table or desk.

Alternatively, the housing 22 for the alarm apparatus could be supportedon a nonabrasive layer of material 29 such as felt, as illustrated inFIG. 4, in lieu of using the four feet 28. The FIG. 4 embodiment wouldbe identical to that shown in FIGS. 1-3 except that the alarm plunger 54which extends from the bottom of the cover member 26 would of necessitybe shorter in length. The reason for a shorter length of the plunger isof course that the thickness of the material 29 is much less than thelength of the feet 28.

The alarm apparatus 20 is provided with a lock cylinder 32 of knowndesign mounted through an aperture provided in one of the sidewalls 30of the box-shaped case 24. The lock cylinder 32 operates by turning akey 33 (FIG. 9) which rotates its lock arm 36 between two angularorientations separated by a angle. Referring to FIG. 7, when the lockarm 36 is in the dottedline, horizontal position the alarm apparatus 20is in the alarm on position, and when the lock arm 36 is in thevertically down, solid-line position of FIG. 7, the alarm apparatus isin the alarm off position.

Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that when the lock arm 36 is in thealarm position, stud 37 extending perpendicular from the outer end ofthe arm 36 engages a first flange. portion 38 formed at right angles atthe upper right hand end of post 40 which is secured at its inner end tothe base plate 26. By virtue of this arrangement, the cover 26 is heldin a locked relationship whenever the alarm apparatus is set to thealarm on position, and consequently the base plate 26 cannot be removedonce the alarm apparatus is set to operate.

Similarly, when the lock arm 36 is in the alarm off position, stud 37engages a second flange portion 39 formed at the upper left hand end ofpost 40. Thus cover 26 is also held in a locked relationship with the.alarm set to the off position. To remove the cover 26, the lock arm 36must be turned to a position between the on and of positions.

In addition to the lock cylinder 32, the basic operating components ofthe alarm apparatus 20 comprise alarm buzzer 44 of a known design, abattery unit 46 and two switch assemblies 48 and 50 operated by a potsition sensing device 52.

The position sensing device 52 includes a plunger 54 that is secured toone end of rocker level 60 and extends through an opening 56 formed incover member 26. Referring to FIG. 11, the rocker lever 60 is shown asfabricated from two relatively thin members 62 and 64 which are bondedtogether and preferably made of metal. The upper member 64 includes anarcuate portion 66 which forms-a sleeve for pivot pin 67 (FIG. 7)extending perpendicularly from sidewall 30 to provide a pivotalconnection for the rocker lever 60. The lever is retained on pivot pin67 by means of C-shaped retainer 69. The plunger '54 is secured to'onearm 68 of the rocker lever 60 by virtue ofa threaded engagement withthreaded aperture 70. The other arm 72 of the rocker lever 60-isbentupwardly to provide a ramp for closing the switch circuit of switchassembly 48. A spring 74 extending between the upstanding Stud 76 (FIG.11) and a downwardly bent hook portion 77 of an L-shaped bracket 78(FIG. 8) constantly urges the plunger 54 downwardly against the-surfacesupporting enclosed housing 22 of the alarm apparatus 20.

Referring to FIG. 10, there is shown the first switch assembly 48 whichis mounted on one arm 80 of L- shaped bracket 78 and is disposeddirectly below the lock cylinder 32. The switch assembly 48 comprises aswitch actuating plunger 84 slidably mounted in an opening 86 formedthrough the center of an insulating housing 88. The actuating plunger 84has an upper tubular insulating element 90 and a lower tubularconducting element 92 which are arranged in an end-toend relationshipseparated by a small space to define detent 94. A stop washer 96 at thelower end of the conducting element 92 I limits the upward travel ofplunger 84. Similarly, an enlarged head portion 98 is provided on theupper end of insulating element 90 and engages the annular shoulder 99formed by the enlarged diameter portion of the opening 86 to serve as alimit to the downward travel of plunger 84. There is provided in apassage 102 crosswise to opening 86 a pair of switch contacts 104 and106 in the form of a ball 108 and spring 110 which is secured at itsother end to an adjustable screw 112. Electrical leads 113 are connectedto the two screws 112.

When the actuating plunger 84 is in the position illustrated in FIG.with the lock arm 36 in the vertical down orientation, the switchassembly 48 is in the open position since the balls 108 are separated byan insulating material. However, when the lock arm 36 is turned to thealarm on position, plunger 84 is free to slide in passageway 86 and uponthe housing 22 being lifted the plunger-S4 will be pushed downwardlyunder the biasing force of spring 74 to effect a resultant upward forceupon the actuating plunger 84 to bring the conducting element 92 intofrictional engagement with the pair of balls 108 and thereby provide aclosed current path for the switch assembly 48. Upon this occurrence,the circuit between the battery unit 46 and the alarm buzzer 44 isclosed to energize the alarm system.

It will be noted from the above description that the first switchassembly 48 is actuated when the plunger 54 is freed to move below itsalarm ready position due to the raising of the housing 22 above thesupporting surface. The second switch assembly 50, which will now bedescribed, is actuated when the plunger 54 is moved in the oppositedirection, i.e., upwards. The second switch assembly makes alarmapparatus 20 tamper-proof by eliminating the possibility of slipping athin solid object, such as a thin metal plate 55 depicted in FIG. 8.,under the plunger 54 and raising this object simultaneously with thehousing 22 to avoid the actuation of the first switch assembly 48. I

The second switch assembly 50 comprises a first contact carried on theouter end of rocker lever 60 and a second electrical contact 122disposed above the first switch contact a short distance when theplunger element 54 is in its alarm ready position (see FIG. 8).Electrical contact 120 (FIG. 8) comprises a stem portion 124 and acontact button 126 (FIG. 7). Electrical contact 120. is mounted on theend 68 of lever 60 by means of a rivet 127 threaded through opening 128of lever 60 and insulating bushing 129 which insulates the contact 120from lever 60. Electrical contact 122 likewise consists of a stemportion 128 and contact button 130 which is disposed directly above thecontact button 126. The electrical contact 122 is secured to the lowerend of a pivotal mounted support 132 for the reasons to be describedhereinafter.

One of the novel features of this invention is a means operated by thelock device 32 that will selectively deactivate both switch assemblies48 and 50 to prevent the energization of the alarm buzzer regardless ofthe position of plunger 54. One part of this deactivating means can beseen by referring to FIGS. 6-10 which show the lock arm 36 positioned inthe alarm off positionrln thisalarm off position, the lowermost roundededge 134 of lock arm 36 is in engagement with the upper end of plunger84 when the plunger is in its open switch position. It will thus beappreciated that regardless of theposition'of rocker lever 60, the firstswitch assembly 48 will be'maintained in the open switch positionaslongas lock arm 36 is in thealarm off position.

The means for deactivating thesecond switch assembly 50 is providedvthrough a lever arrangement between the lock arm 36 and the pivotalmounted support block 132 as best illustrated in FIGS. 6-9. The pivotalmounted support block 132 which carries the switch contact 122 for thesecond switch assembly 50 is pivotally mounted on a pin 138 extendingperpendicular from arm140 of L-shaped bracket 78. A spring 142,stretched between'stud 144 on pivotal mounted support block 132 and stud146 on arm 140 of L-shaped bracket 78, urges the support 132 to turn ina counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 9, A stop lug 148extending from the arm 140 of L'shaped bracket 78 is adapted to engagethe tail portion 150 of the pivotal support block 132 to limit thecounterclockwise movement of the pivotal support. An interconnectinglever 152 is pivotally supported at its intermediate portion on a pivotpin 154 extending perpendicular from the arm 80 of L-shaped bracket 78such that one of the lever arms 156 is adapted to engage a guide pin I58extending perpendicular from the lock arm 36, and its other lever arm160 is disposed in the path of a follower pin 162 extending from theforward face of an inturned flange 164 of pivotal mounted support block132. Through this lever arrangement, the lock arm 36 upon being turnedto the vertically down off position causes its associated guide pin torotate interconnecting lever 152 counterclockwise about its axis tocause its other arm 160 to engage follower pin 162 and thereby raise thepivotal mounted support 132 upwardly a sufficient distance to preventthe closing of contacts 120 and 122 of the second switch assembly 50regardless of the position of the plunger 54.

The schematic diagram depicted in FIG. 12 illustrates the circuit forthe alarm apparatus comprising an alarm buzzer 44 energized by a batteryunit 46, which comprises two dry cell batteries 170 (FIG. 1), connectedelectrically in series by means of DC battery socket 172 that is mountedon base plate 26. The alarm buzzer 44 is energized when either of theswitch assemblies 48 or 50, which are connected in parallel, are closedthrough the movement of plunger 52 as described above.

The above described alarm apparatus 20 is adapted to be connected to anadjacent piece of equipment by means of a bracket 180 (FIG. 5) extendingoutwardly of the bottom surface of base plate 26. Bracket 180 has itsinner end secured to base plate 26 as by welding and is provided by anopening 182 in its outer end for receiving a stud 184 extending througha similar opening 186 at the outer end of bracket 188 which extendsoutwardly from the base of business machine 190 or the like. Acompressive material such as soft rubber or foam 191 is compressedbetween bracket 180 and bracket 188 which maintains a downward pressureof the alarm apparatus 20. As a consequence, when the business machineI90 is lifted, the alarm apparatus will also be raised to trigger itsalarm buzzer. A further thought to the type of connector means usedbetween the alarm apparatus and equipment to be protected would be tomake it difficult to disconnect the units without the alarm sounding.

I claim: I

1. An alarm apparatus comprising a generally enclosed housing having abottom wall with an opening formed therein, first and second switchassemblies and an alarm buzzer contained within said housing, a rockerlever rotatably-mounted along its intermediate portion within saidhousing, a plunger extending downwardly from one arm of said lever anddisposed to extend into said bottom wall opening, spring means forurging said plunger to move downwardly into engagement with the surfacenormally supportingsaid bottom wall in spaced relation, said plunger inengagement with said supporting surface defining an intermediate alarmready position, said first switch assembly including first switchclosing means for energizing said alarm buzzer disposed to be actuatedby the other arm of said rocker lever upon said plunger moving belowsaid alarm ready position, and said second switch assembly includingsecond switch closing means for energizing said alarm buzzer disposed tobe actuated by said one arm of said rocker lever upon said plungermoving above said alarm ready position.

' 2. An alarm apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising meansfor selectively deactivating both of said switch assemblies to preventthe energization of 6 said alarm buzzer regardless of the position ofsaid plunger.

3. An alarmapparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means forattaching said enclosed housing to the housing of office equipment.

4. An alarm apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said deactivatingmeans includes a lock device having a lock cylinder mounted through aside wall of said housing and disposed adjacent said first switchclosing means, a lock arm mounted on the inner end of said lock cylinderand rotatable between two angular orientations with said lock armengaging said first switch closing means in one of said two angularorientations in a manner to prevent the actuation of said first switchclosing means.

5. An alarm apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said second switchclosing means comprises a first electrical contact mounted on said armof said rocker lever facing upwardly and said second switch assemblyfur-.

ther includes a second electrical contact above said first contact in acontacting position when said plunger is raised above said alarm readyposition, a support block pivotally mounted and carrying said secondcontact between said contacting position and a noncontacting position,and wherein said deactivating means further'includes lever means formoving said second contact from said contacting position to saidnon-contacting position upon said lock arm being moved to said one ofsaid two angular orientations.

6. An alarm apparatus comprising a generally enclosed housing having abox-shaped case and a removable base plate for covering the open end ofsaid case. said base plate having an opening formed therein. first andsecond switch assemblies and an alarm buzzer contained within saidhousing, a rocker lever rotatably mounted along its intermediate portionwith said housing, a plunger extending downwardly from one arm of saidlever and disposed to extend into said base plate opening, spring meansfor urging said plunger to move downwardly into engagement with thesurface normally supporting said base plate in spaced relation, saidplunger in engagement with said supporting surface defining anintermediate alarm ready position, said first switch assembly includingfirst switch closing means for energizing said alarm buzzer disposed tobe actuated by the other arm of said rocker lever upon said plungermoving below said alarm ready position. said second switch assemblyincluding second switch closing means for energizing said alarm buzzerdisposed to be actus ated by said one arm of said rocker lever upon saidplunger moving above said alarm ready position, means for selectivelydeactivating both of said switch assemblies to prevent energization ofsaid alarm buzzer regardless of the position of said plunger andincluding means for locking said base plate onto said case.

7. An alarm apparatus as defined in claim 6, further comprising meansfor attaching said base plate to the housing of office equipment.

8. An alarm apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said deactivatingmeans includes a lock device having a lock cylinder mounted through aside wall of said housing and disposed adjacent said first switchclosing means, a lock arm mounted on the inner end of said lock cylinderand rotatable between two angular orientations with said lock armengaging said first switchclosing means in one of said two angularorientations in a manner to prevent the actuation of said first switchclosing means, and wherein said lock means for said base plate comprisesa post secured to said base plate and having a flange portion engaged bysaid lock arm when moved to said one of said two angular orientations.

9. An alarm apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said second switchclosing means comprises first electrical contact mounted on said one armof said rocker lever facing upwardly and said second switch assemblyfurther includes a second electrical contact above said first contact ina contacting position when said plunger is raised above said alarm readyposition, a support block pivotally mounted and carrying said secondmoved to either of said two angular orientations.

1. An alarm apparatus comprising a generally enclosed housing having abottom wall with an opening formed therein, first and second switchassemblies and an alarm buzzer contained within said housing, a rockerlever rotatably mounted along its intermediate portion within saidhousing, a plunger extending downwardly from one arm of said lever anddisposed to extend into said bottom wall opening, spring means forurging said plunger to move downwardly into engagement with the surfacenormally supporting said bottom wall in spaced relation, said plunger inengagement with said supporting surface defining an intermediate alarmready position, said first switch assembly including first switchclosing means for energizing said alarm buzzer disposed to be actuatedby the other arm of said rocker lever upon said plunger moving belowsaid alarm ready position, and said second switch assembly includingsecond switch closing means for energizing said alarm buzzer disposed tobe actuated by said one arm of said rocker lever upon said plungermoving above said alarm ready position.
 2. An alarm apparatus as definedin claim 1, further comprising means for selectively deactivating bothof said switch assemblies to prevent the energization of said alarmbuzzer regardless of the position of said plunger.
 3. An alarm apparatusas defined in claim 1, further comprising means for attaching saidenclosed housing to the housing of office equipment.
 4. An alarmapparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said deactivating meansincludes a lock device having a lock cylinder mounted through a sidewall of said housing and disposed adjacent said first switch closingmeans, a lock arm mounted on the inner end of said lock cylinder androtatable between two angular orientations with said lock arm engagingsaid first switch closing means in one of said two angular orientationsin a manner to prevent the actuation of said first switch closing means.5. An alarm apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said second switchclosing means comprises a first electrical contact mounted on said armof said rocker lever facing upwardly and said second switch assemblyfurther includes a second electrical contact above said first contact ina contacting position when said plunger is raised above said alarm readyposition, a support block pivotally mounted and carrying said secondcontact between said contacting posiTion and a noncontacting position,and wherein said deactivating means further includes lever means formoving said second contact from said contacting position to saidnon-contacting position upon said lock arm being moved to said one ofsaid two angular orientations.
 6. An alarm apparatus comprising agenerally enclosed housing having a box-shaped case and a removable baseplate for covering the open end of said case, said base plate having anopening formed therein, first and second switch assemblies and an alarmbuzzer contained within said housing, a rocker lever rotatably mountedalong its intermediate portion with said housing, a plunger extendingdownwardly from one arm of said lever and disposed to extend into saidbase plate opening, spring means for urging said plunger to movedownwardly into engagement with the surface normally supporting saidbase plate in spaced relation, said plunger in engagement with saidsupporting surface defining an intermediate alarm ready position, saidfirst switch assembly including first switch closing means forenergizing said alarm buzzer disposed to be actuated by the other arm ofsaid rocker lever upon said plunger moving below said alarm readyposition, said second switch assembly including second switch closingmeans for energizing said alarm buzzer disposed to be actuated by saidone arm of said rocker lever upon said plunger moving above said alarmready position, means for selectively deactivating both of said switchassemblies to prevent energization of said alarm buzzer regardless ofthe position of said plunger and including means for locking said baseplate onto said case.
 7. An alarm apparatus as defined in claim 6,further comprising means for attaching said base plate to the housing ofoffice equipment.
 8. An alarm apparatus as defined in claim 6, whereinsaid deactivating means includes a lock device having a lock cylindermounted through a side wall of said housing and disposed adjacent saidfirst switch closing means, a lock arm mounted on the inner end of saidlock cylinder and rotatable between two angular orientations with saidlock arm engaging said first switch closing means in one of said twoangular orientations in a manner to prevent the actuation of said firstswitch closing means, and wherein said lock means for said base platecomprises a post secured to said base plate and having a flange portionengaged by said lock arm when moved to said one of said two angularorientations.
 9. An alarm apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein saidsecond switch closing means comprises first electrical contact mountedon said one arm of said rocker lever facing upwardly and said secondswitch assembly further includes a second electrical contact above saidfirst contact in a contacting position when said plunger is raised abovesaid alarm ready position, a support block pivotally mounted andcarrying said second contact between said contacting position and anoncontacting position, and wherein said deactivating means furtherincludes lever means for moving said second contact from said contactingposition to said non-contacting position upon said lock arm being movedto said one of said two angular orientations.
 10. An alarm apparatus asdefined in claim 8, wherein said lock means for said base platecomprises a post secured to said base plate and having a pair of spacedflange portions engaged by said lock arm when moved to either of saidtwo angular orientations.